These declarations of special measures are necessary to prevent the incursion of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) to the United Kingdom. The measures prohibit the import of hay and straw and certain animal by-products from animals susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease from any countries, or zones within countries, that are not recognised by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) as free of foot-and-mouth disease – either with or without vaccination. This is in line with the recommendations set down in Articles 8.8.28, 8.8.30, 8.8.32, 8.8.33 and 8.8.36-8.8.40 of the WOAH Terrestrial Code. The prohibition does not apply to animal by-products if they are an intermediate product, a trade sample or research and diagnostic samples.